SAN ANTONIO , Texas -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The three Americans rescued Wednesday after more than five years in captivity in the jungles of Colombia appear to be in good health , doctors said Thursday .

Keith Stansell , left , Marc Gonsalves , center , and Thomas Howes sit in an aircraft after being rescued Wednesday .

`` They 're very resilient , they 're very stress-hardy and they 're doing very well , and so I think that certainly is a good-news story , '' said Col. Carl Dickens , a psychologist at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio , Texas .

Marc Gonsalves , Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell arrived there late Wednesday on an Air Force C-17 to undergo a battery of medical tests and debriefings .

All three are U.S. government contractors who were captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia , or FARC , in February 2003 when their plane crashed in a remote region of the country .

They will begin reuniting with their families Thursday .

`` They are very grateful , very excited to be home , '' said Air Force staff Sgt. Daryl Bradley , who accompanied the three men on the flight Wednesday from Colombia to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio . Watch CNN 's Brian Todd report on the hostages ' return ''

`` They ca n't wait to see their families , ca n't wait to see the differences in the United States , and they 're just absolutely pleased to be home . '' Learn about the freed hostages ''

A plane the men were on crashed in February 2003 in a remote region of Colombia .

They were among 15 hostages , including ex-Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt , rescued Wednesday in a Colombian military operation . Read how the military faked out the rebels

The FARC still holds more than 700 hostages in camps scattered throughout the jungle .

Bradley , who is a paramedic , earlier said all three Americans appeared to be in good medical condition .

Marc Gonsalves ' father said he would see his son Thursday .

`` We have a lot to talk about , '' George Gonsalves told CNN 's `` American Morning . ''

`` There 's been a lot of things that have happened , and I 'm sure there 's a lot of things that have happened with him that we 'd certainly like to exchange a little conversation for about two or three hours anyway . ''

Keith Stansell said he was on the beach when his stepfather called with the news of his father 's release .

`` I did n't even know what to do , '' he said . `` I just started freaking out -- screaming , yelling . I ran as fast as I could off the beach . '' Watch the Stansell family eagerly await the former captive 's return ''

His sister , Lauren , said she was at home when the phone rang with the news .

`` I knew when I heard the other voice that she had good news . I knew it was good news about Dad , '' she said .

Amanda Howes said she learned about her uncle Thomas Howes ' release from a bulletin on her computer at a TV station , where she works in Boston , Massachusetts .

`` A news alert crossed on the bottom of the screen , I click on it and it 's this wonderful news , '' she said . `` I literally screamed with enjoyment . I started shaking . Of course , everyone was like ... ` What 's the hot news tip ? ' ''

Adm. James Stavridis , head of the U.S. military 's Southern Command , has kept a picture of the hostages on his desk since taking his post in 2006 and said their release has been one of his top priorities .

`` You could hear the cheers throughout the building when we announced the success of the rescue , '' he said . Watch the hostages land on U.S. soil ''

The U.S. government considers the FARC a terrorist group and has refused to negotiate with it while publicly urging the rebels to release the Americans .

The FARC , which has fought a long-standing and complicated conflict with Colombia 's government and right-wing paramilitary groups , defends the taking of captives as a legitimate act of war . Background on FARC ''

Before news of the rescue broke Wednesday , U.S. Sen. John McCain , the presumptive GOP presidential nominee , said he had mentioned the three Americans in talks with government officials during his visit to Colombia -- part of a three-day trip to Latin America -- and that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe had briefed him on the planned raid Tuesday night .

`` It is great news , '' McCain said . `` Now we must renew our efforts to free all of the other innocent people held hostage . ''

Months after the men 's capture , a Colombian journalist filmed the three at a rebel camp , where FARC commanders branded them CIA spies and prisoners of war . A few months ago , family members saw footage of their loved ones from a captured rebel video .

`` It 's been a long haul here , '' George Gonsalves said at the time . `` It has been a very trying experience , to say the least , not knowing how he is doing , what he is doing . '' The video showed Marc Gonsalves brushing bugs away from his face and Stansell staring silently into the camera .

Only Howes spoke , giving details about his will and telling his wife that he was proud of her .

`` You think every year is going to be the year , '' George Gonsalves said . `` That is what I thought last year and certainly I 'll hope for that this year . ''

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NEW : Three Americans had medical tests ; doctors say they are healthy

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Ex-hostages and relatives express joy at rescue operation

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Marc Gonsalves , Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell U.S. government contractors

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Colombian rebels captured three men in 2003 when their plane crashed